Tractor propelled buck rake



Feb. 13, 1951 J. B. RICHARDSON TRACTOR PROPELLED BUCK RAKE 2Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 18, 1949 Feb. 13, 1951 J. B. RICHARDSONTRACTOR PROPELLED BUCK RAKE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 18, 1949 IA/IEIYTOR (/4772 6.95. Fzckardso w By X.

Patented Feb. 13, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 6 Claims.

This invention relates to a novel construction of tractor propelled buckrake or sweep rake for use in picking up hay or the like as from a windrow or swath and for transporting the hay to a delivery point.

More particularly, it is an aim of the present invention to provide abuckrake of extremely simple construction which may be quickly andeasily attached to or detached from a conven tional tractor andconnected to the hydraulic system thereof so that the buck rake may bepropelled by the tractor and raised and lowered by operation of thetractor hydraulic system and under the control of the tractor operator;

Still a further and particular important object of the present inventionis to provide a buck rate which may be quickly and easily adjusted totractors having coupling means disposed at different elevations andwithout affecting the extent that the forward end of the buck rake maybe elevated.

Another object of the invention is to provide a buck rake having groundengaging supporting wheels on which the rake frame is yieldablysupported so that the rake will be conveyed smoothly over rough terrainthereby minimizing the amount of hay which will escape therefrom; andwhich is provided with cushioning means for yieldably urging the forwardend of the rake downwardly and into engagement with the ground, yetwhich will permit the rake frame to pivot relatively to its groundsupporting wheels to enable the forward ends of the rake teeth to rideover humps or obstructions in the path of movement of the teeth.

Various other objects and advantages of the invention will hereinafterbecome more fully apparent from the following description of thedrawings, illustrating a presently preferred embodiment thereof, andwherein:

Figure l is a side elevational view showing the buck rake attached tothe forward end of a tractor and disposed in an elevated position;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary top plan view of the buck rake on an enlargedscale;

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary side elevational view of the buckrake shown connected to the coupling means of a tractor;

Figure 4 is a cross sectional view thereof taken substantially along aplane as indicated by the line 4-4 of Figure 3;

v. Figure 5 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view takensubstantially along a plane as indicated by the line 5-5 of Figure 2;

Figure 6 is a view partly in horizontal section and partly in top plantaken substantially along a plane as indicated by the line 6-6 of Figure3 and on an enlarged scale;

Figure 7 is a perspective view on an enlarged scale of one of theelements as shown in Fig ure 6;

Figure 8 is a cross sectional view taken substantially along a plane asindicated by the line 8-8 of Figure 3, and

Figure 9 is a fragmentary perspective view of a portionof the buck rake.

Referring more specifically to the drawings, the buck rake in itsentirety is designated generally II) and includes a frame, designatedgenerally II, having parallel transversely extending cross members I2and I3, each of which is formed of angle iron and includes ahorizontally disposed side and an upstanding, vertically disposed side.The vertically disposed sides of the cross members I2 and I3 areremotely disposed relatively to one another and the horizontal sides ofsaid cross members are connected to the rear end portions of each of aplurality of tines or teeth I4 which extend longitudinally of the buckrake It or at right angles to the cross members I2 and I3. The crossmembers I2 and I3 are secured by fastenings I5 to the teeth I4 and saidteeth I4 are fastened to the rear cross member I2 adjacent the rear endsthereof and extend to substantially beyond the forward cross member I3and are preferably provided with tapered, pointed forward ends I6.

An axle I1 is disposed within the frame II and transversely of the buckrake I0 and between and substantially parallel to the cross members I2and I3. The axle I1 is disposed above and spaced slightly from theintermediate teeth 14 and is of a length substantially less than thewidth of the buck rake ID. A ground engaging wheel I8 is journaled oneach end of the axle I1 and said wheels have lower portions extendingdownwardly between adjacently disposed teeth I4 and which lower portionsare adapted toengage the ground. The wheels I8 are equally spaced fromthe two outermost teeth I4 and are preferably disposed so that there arethree teeth I4 located outwardly of each wheel I 8, as clearlyillustrated in Figure 2. The intermediate portion of a leaf spring I9 issecured to the underside of the axle I l inwardly of and adjacent eachwheel I8 by a spring clamp 28, said springs ex, tending longitudinallyof the buck rake and bee ing pivotally connected at their ends to springshackles 2I and 22 which are secured to and rise from the cross membersI2 and I3, respectively. Accordingly, it will be readily apparent thatthe buck rake frame II and the teeth I4 are yieldably supportedrelatively to the ground engaging wheels I8 by the springs I 9 foryielding The buck rake Iii-is provided With an upstand-" ingtransversely extending wall 24 including a substantially invertedU-shaped frame 25 which is formed of angle iron and the depending endsof the legs of which are suitably secured by fast.

tenings 26 to the ends of the forward cross member I3. The wall 24 alsoincludes transversely extending vertically spaced slatsor barsi2l whichare secured by fastenings 28 to the upright legs of the wall frame 25.Said wall constitutes a part of the buck rake frame H and is braced andmaintained in an upright position relatively to the tines [4 by twocorresponding. endbraces.

29 having corresponding ends 30 which are suitably secured to the rearcross member [2" and corresponding opposite ends 3| which are suitablyfastened to the upright legs of the wall frame 25,

said braces 29 extending diagonally upwardly and forwardly from therearcross member [2 to the wall 24; The framel-i is also provided withintermediate diagonal braces 32' which are disposed inwardly of andadjacent the wheels Siand which have corresponding lower ends331, as:best seen in Figure 5, which are securedto the rear: cross member 12 andopposite upper endsowhich are curved" upwardly and-which are secured'tothe upper, intermediate portion of the wall frame 25-, as seen at 34 inFigure 5; The wall z also includes intermediate upright braces or framemembers 35, one of which is disposed adjacent theupper end 350i eachbrace 32 and which members 35 are secured at their lower ends tothe'forward cross member I3 and at their upper ends'to the intermediateportion of the wall frame 25. The members 29, 32 and 35 are likewiseformed-of angle iron and said members 32 and 35 have adjacent; parallelsides, for a purpose which will hereinafter become apparent The buckrake I5 is provided with side bars 36 which are secured by fasteningsSite the frame upright 25-- and to the side braces 29 which aredisposedtherebehind, as best illustrated in Figure- 3. The side bars 36 extendforwardly of the wall 24' and-.are spaced substantially above the tinesM to prevent the load from falling transversely off of said tines.

The-upright side of the rear crossmember- I2 isprovided with spacedpairs of ears 38 extend rearwardly therefrom and each of which pairs ofears is adapted to receive an end" of a frame-leg 39,- which'frame legends are pivotal-1y connected to the ears 38 by pivot pins sll forthereby pivotally connecting the frame, designated generally 4|tothe'rear cross member [2. Said frame 4| includes the legs 35, an endplate 42 and across brace 43. The legs 39' converge rearwardly from thecross member [2 and have their rearwardly disposed converging endsconnected by the plate 52 and their intermediate portions braced-by thecross brace 43,- which plate and cross-brace are connected to the legs39'by suitable fastenings 44. has-one end thereof secured to theunderside of the-plate -42 and extends therefrom away from the legs 39and is provided with an upwardly ofiset opposite end 46 which isprovided with a downwardly opening socket 41, as indicated in A tubularmember Figure 3, which is adapted to receive theup- A hydraulic cylinder55 has a piston 56 disposed reciprocally therein and which is providedwith a piston rod 51 which extends reciprocally through the forwardendo58 of the cylinder 55. The opposite, rear end of the cylinder 55 isprovided with an extension 59 which is received between a pair ofupstanding ears 6!) which rise fromthe plate 52 and which is pivotallyconnected thereto by a pin 6!. A conduit 52 is connected to andcommunicates with the forward end 58 of the cylinder 55 and has aflexible extension or hose 63 which is adapted to be detachablyconnected to a pipe fi lleading from a conventional hydraulic system ofthe tractor 5| and by whichthe hydraulic mediumhnder' pressure at ,the.control of. the operator of the tractor: 5| can be supplied'to theforward end ofthe cylinder 55 for displacing: the piston 55 and pistonrod 51 rearwardly therein. The rearend of 'the cylinder 55 isprovidedwith a vent pipe"6'5' for ordinarily venting the rear end of thecylinder 55. but which may be connected to a second con-- duit of the.hydraulic system of the tractor 51 for supplying a hydraulic mediumunder pressure to the opposite end of the cylinder 55'for drivingthe-piston 55 forwardly. However, said piston56 will be moved forwardlyby the weight of. the portioniof the buck rake Ill located forwardly ofthe axle ll, as will hereinafter become apparent.

A standard 5.6 is pivotally mounted at er at-itslower end on a bracket'58 which rises fiomthe cross brace 53 and is pivotally-connected'by-apin 89 at its upper end'to theforward end' of the piston rod 57. A rodis -pivotally connected at one end thereof by the pivotpin 69 to thestandard 55 and piston rod 51' and extends forwardly therefromreciprocally into the rear endof a tube ii. The rod l0 is provided-withlongitudinally spaced openings 12 for selectively receiving the shank ofa nut and bcl-tfastening" 73; which extends through the tube H foradjustably connecting said rod and tube for varying the distance betweenthe pivot pin 59' and the forward end ofthe tube H. The tube ll extendsreciprocally through a sleeve i l and has a collar '55 fixed to itsforward end which limits its rearward-sliding movement with respect tothe sleeve 74.

bearing against the rear end of the sleeve 14 and its rear end bearingagainst a collar H whichis fixed to the tube ll and which urges said tube rearwardly relatively tothe sleeve 14.

A pair of arms 78 are secured as by weld-ingjas seen at l9'to the sleevel4 and are additionally connected to one another'and to Said sleeve by across brace to which the arms and sleeve are likewise welded, as seen at19. extend forwardly from the sleeve in diverging relationship to oneanother and have substantiallyparallel forward ends El which are disposed between the spaced upper portions ofthe' adjacent members 32 and35 and which are pivotally connected thereto by pivot pins 82,, asbestseen in Figures 4 and 5. v v

From the foregoing it will'be readily apparent that the pusher frame 44may 'pivot on the pins" 55 relatively to the buck rake frame Hsoth'atthe frame 4'! mayextend upwardly andrearwardly at any desired angle withrespect to the plane of the tines H3.- Accordingly, the tube end 46 maybe disposed at any desired levelforengaging the coupling pin head 58 sothat the buck rake ID may be attached to tractors'h'av ing coupling pinsdisposed at different levels:-

Anexpansion coiled spring iii-iscarried by the tube ll andhas itsforward-end The arms 18.

With the pusher frame 4| thus attached to the tractor 5|, the rod may beadjusted by the fastenings 13 relatively to the tube H so that thepiston 56 will be disposed adjacent the forward end 58 of the cylinder55 when the buck rake teeth are inclined downwardly and forwardly asillustrated in dotted lines in Figure 1. In this, the normal position ofthe buck rake teeth M, the buck rake 59 can be propelled forwardly sothat the forward ends of the teeth I4 which are in contact orsubstantially contacting the ground surface 23 may pick up hay or othermaterial from a windrow or swath as the buck rake is propelled forwardlyby the tractor 5|. After the buck rake has thus been loaded, thehydraulic medium under pressure is supplied from the system of thetractor through the conduits 63 and 62 to the forward end of thecylinder 55 for forcing the piston 56 rearwardly. The rearward movementof the piston rod 5'! will cause the standard 66 to swing rearwardlythereby exerting a pull on the rod Ill, tube H and sleeve 14 which willthus exert a pull on the upper end of the wall 2 5' through theforwardly diverging arms 18 to thus cause the rear end of the frame H topivot on the axis of the pins 40 relatively to the pusher frame 4| andto rock on the axle IT for depressing the rear end of the frame H andfor elevating the forward end of the tines M to thereby cause the buckrake in to assume its elevated, full line position of Figure 1, in whichposition the load may be conveyed readily to the point of discharge.After the buck rake if! has been unloaded the weight of the portionthereof disposed forwardly of the axle ll will normally cause the buckrake to return to its dotted line position of Figure 1 when thehydraulic pressure in the forward end of the cylinder 55 is released sothat the pipe 65 can ordinarily be used merely as a vent pipe and neednot be connected to a source of hydraulic pressure for returning thebuck rake to a lowered, operative position although this movement may beaccomplished by the hydraulic medium, if desired. The spring I!) willyieldably support the tines relatively to the ground engaging wheels I 8for minimizing vibrations of the buck rake thus reducing to a minimumthe amount of hay which will escape between the buck rake teeth [4 whilepicking up or conveying a load of hay or other loose material. Likewise,should the forward ends 16 of the tines I4 strike a hump or obstruction,the spring 16 will permit the tines to swing upwardly on the axle I! asa pivot due to the fact that the sleeve 14 can slide rearwardly on thetube H against the action of the spring 16, thus allowing the frame torock counterclockwise on the axle H, as seen in Figure 3. After thetines have passed over the obstruction, the spring 16 will return thebuck rake frame II to its normal operative position so that the forwardends [6 of the teeth are yieldably held by the spring 16 in an operativeposition, as illustrated in dotted lines in Figure 1.

The buck rake II] can be quickly and easily attached to or detached fromthe coupling hitch post 49 of a tractor, as previously described, andthe adjustability of the rod l0 relatively to the tube H enables thebuck rake to be mounted on tractors having coupling pins 4'9 disposed atdifferent levels.

Various modifications and changes are contemplated and may obviously beresorted to, without departing from the spirit or scope of the inventionas hereinafter defined by the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. A tractor propelled buck rake comprising a frame'disposedtransversely to the direction of travel of the buck rake, a pair oftransversely aligned round engaging wheels for supporting said frame, aplurality of teeth connected to the frame forwardly and rearwardly ofsaid wheels and extending forwardly to substantially beyond said frame,a pusher frame pivotally con-- nected to the rear end of said frame andextending rearwardly therefrom, said pusher frame having a downwardlyopening socket at its rear end adapted to receive an upwardly extendingcoupling pin mounted on the forward end of a tractor, a wall rising fromthe buck rake frame forwardly of said wheels, a standard pivotallyconnected to and rising from the pusher frame intermediate of its ends,linkage means pivotally connected to said wall adjacent its upper endand pivotally connected to the standard, a cylinder pivotally connectedat one end thereof to the pusher frame and extending forwardly from itspivoted end toward said standard, a piston reciprocally mounted in saidcylinder, a piston rod projectin from the piston through the oppositeend of said cylinder and pivotally connected to the upper end of thestandard, said cylinder being adapted to receive a medium under pressurefor forcing said piston toward the pivoted end of the cylinder forswinging the standard away from the buck rake frame for exerting a pullon said linkage means to rock the buck rake frame relatively to theground engaging wheels for elevating the forward ends of the buck raketeeth.

2. A buck rake as in claim 1, said linkage means includingtelescopically connected sections, and spring means for urging saidsections toward extended position for normally urging the wall to swingaway from said pivoted standard for yieldably urgin the forward ends ofthe buck rake teeth downwardly.

3. A buck rake as in claim 1, said pusher frame being swingablerelatively to the buck rake frame for positioning the downwardly openingsocket thereof for engaging coupling pins disposed at differentelevations.

4. A buck rake as in claim 1, said pusher frame being swingablerelatively to the buck rake frame for positioning the downwardly openingsocket thereof for engaging coupling pins disposed at differentelevations, and said linkage means including extensible sectionsadjustable relatively to one another for adjustably positionin thepiston in the cylinder.

5. A buck rake as in claim 1, and detachable fastening means swivellyconnected to the coupling pin for releasably retaining said socket inengagement with the coupling pin.

6. A buck rake as in claim 1, said ground engaging wheels being disposedbetween the forward and rear ends of the buck rake frame and betweenportions of adjacently disposed buck rake teeth, an axle disposed abovecertain of the buck rake teeth and on which said wheels are journaled,and leaf springs pivotally connected at their ends to the forward andrear ends of the buck rake frame and secured intermediate of their endsto said axle.

JAMES B. RICHARDSON.

No references cited.

